Occupy Mobile group plans march to Montgomery to protest tax on groceries

MOBILE, Alabama -- A group from Occupy Mobile plans to gather downtown Saturday morning to begin a 190-mile walk to Montgomery in protest of the sales tax on groceries, an organizer said in a news release tonight.

Marchers will join with supporters at 10 a.m. in Mobile’s Cathedral Square prior to their departure, said Travis Cummins. The group will spend 12 days walking along U.S. 31 and other rural routes, and will arrive in the capital on March 15th, to coincide with a rally at the State House organized by Alabama Arise, an advocacy group also opposed to the grocery tax.

Alabama Arise and the Occupy Mobile group consider the tax on groceries as placing a disproportionate burden on the poor.

“The march aims to mobilize people to demand that our lawmakers represent us, not corporate interests,” Cummins said. “Corporations enjoy massive tax incentives in exchange for jobs. Meanwhile, working people have to pick up the tab and struggle to put food on the table as a result, which defeats the whole purpose of bringing jobs here.”

Cummins said Occupy Mobile would update its March to Untax Groceries website regularly with photos and details of the journey as it happens. He said the site also contains more information about why the group is marching against the food tax, and lists the towns marchers will pass through.